Fuel-burning system



Oct. 5 1926.

L. R. VAN SANT FUEL BURNING SYSTEM Filed May 4 1925 lnvzx'rua.

wa /M supply I line,

Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

. came STATES PATEN wee,

LEPORT B. VAN SAN-'1, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

:FUEL-BT'TRNING SYSTEM.

Application filed May 4, 1925. Serial No. 27,643.

This invention hasr-eference fuel burning system designed preferablyforheating purposes in. homes dw commercial buildings,- and it Theinvention has for a further object, to

provide in a liquid fuel burning system including..supp1y and returnfuel lines and an air line in communication with the sup ply line, areserve fuel tank in communication with both the fuel supply and, airlines which functions on the starting of the pump to act upon the air tocreate the suctiom,

from the source of supply line, and upon the cessation to pull the fuelinto the supply ofvthe pump eXcessfuel in the supply air in the air lineto break the siphon' in the supply fuel line. i

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is hadto theaccompanying drawings, illustrating apreferred embodiment ofthefinvention and forming a part of this description, in which Figure 1is a greatly reduced sideeleva-j less diagrammatic view,

tion and a more or partly in section, showing a fuel burning systemembodying my invention p Figuref2is a cross-sectional;view"of my safetycontrolling means connected with the fuel reservoir or: container;Figure 3 is cross-bar, a part of the safety -controlling means, taken onthe line 22, Figure 2; and

.Figure' is a 'viewof thereserve fuel tank having conimunicationwith thefuel anda ir similar to at the level the fuel assumes whenthe pump p isin operation.

I to a liquid ellings or is to be understood that; it may beemployed inanysun j fuel is carried to act as a reservo r to receive linebetweenthe tank and the source of supply to cause the a top plan viewshowing a" l container 1 to within a short distance of the,

bottom thereof is a fuel supply line or pipe 6 which extends upwardlyfrom that disclosed in '1 Figurel, except thatthe liquid fuel is shown jThe liquid fuel burning system disclosed herein is not unlike the fuelsystems now in general use, and includes the usual fuel reservoir orcontainer located preferably under: ground vand at a distance from theburner or heater-usually found in the basement of a home or building. Itis possible, however, that the fuel reservoir or container may belocated within the building or dwelling and at close proximity to theburner or heater.v

' The pump shown to supply the liquid fuel from "the source of supply tothe burner or heater is Of a well knowntype and provides a suctionon thesupply side and a pressure on the discharge side, as will be understood,the unused portion of liquid fuel being returned under pressure to thefuel reservoir, or container.

There has been no attempt made to show,

the detailed construction of the burner or its operating parts, exceptthe general'outr line of the pump and-atomizer controlling the ejectionof the fuel .inthe furnace, shown 'in dotted lines fand it is to beunderstood i that the invention is capable of operation with any of thewell known types of fuel burners or grades of fuel. 3 In the drawings, afuel reservoir-or con t'ainer 1 is shown preferably located undernea ththe ground and withinan enclosure 2. An'air supply vent or pipe 3 isattached near the 'top ofthe reservoir or container 1 and is shownhaving communication with the outside atmosphere for the ingress andegress of airinto the reservoir or container 1,]for purposes wellunderstood.

r V Connected with the top of the reservoir or container 1 in a similarmanner to the 'air' vent or pipe 3, is a safety. controlling means 4,tobe described more in detail, and

'which includes a filling pipe 5 extending from'the enclosure Q'andabove the ground, into which 'the'liquidvfuel is poured to fill f orreplenish the reservoir orcontainer 1.

Depending within the fuel reservoir or of the reservoir 1 preferably ator near an even elevation to the safety controllingthe outside means.h'where by means of an L 7 the sup 8 and through the wall or thebuildground line Stakes preferably a horizontal di- I rection outthrough the enclosure Zyinto the communicates with an upstanding pipe orline 6 within the building or dwelling.

By means of a T 11 including a plug 12 for draining purposes, and anipple 13, the pipe or line 6 is connected to an upstanding reserve fueltank 14 at or near the lower end thereof. Leading from the bottom of thetank 14 a supply pipe or line 6" is shown directed beneath the basementfloor 15 to a point near the furnace and again directed upwardly whereit is intercepted by a globe valve 16 intended to be used for eitherregulating the flow of fuel through the supply fuel line or to close thesame for repairs in the system. The fuel pipe or line 6 extendingupwardly from the valve 16 is shown intercepted by a union 17 and afilter 18 of any well known type or design intended to. filter or strainthe liquid fuel in its passage from the reservoir 1. to the pump 19. Itwill be understood that with the pump 19 in operation, the liquid fuelis caused to pass through the supply line 6, 6 and 6 and the connectionsidentified to the pump 19 by reason of the suction created by said pumpin said line. The supply line 6 is continued on from the pump 19 bymeans of suitable connections and through the medium of a valve 20 theliquid fuel is caused to pass through a small pipe or line 21 which hasan entrance into the furnace orheater 22, shown in dotted lines. It willbe understood, that the valve20 is'a regulating valve intended toregulate or control the passage of fuel into the small pipe or line 21and the atomizer, not shown, inside the furnace or heater22.

Leading from the valve 20 in a downwardly direction, a return fuel pipeor line 23 having a union 24 and a globe valve 25 included therein forpurposes previously explained in connection with corresponding parts 17and 16, respectively in the supply line, is directed beneath thebasement floor 15 in a similar manner to the supply line or pipe 6 andfollowsits general direction and is directed upwardly by means. of an L26 again within the building or dwelling and by means of an L 27 leadsout through the building wall 9, the earth 8 and enclosure 2, where bymeans of suitable connections, it is suitably connected'to the fuelreservoir or container 1. It will be further understood, that with thepump .19 in operation, the unused or excess liquid fuel is caused toreturn to the reservoir or container 1 under, a slight pressure throughthe return fuel line or pipe 23.

Leading preferably upwardly from the T 10 connected to the supply linean air pipe or line 28 is attached and by means of the Lis 29 and 30assumes preferably a parallel relationship with the supply fuelline6 andby suitable means is connected to the up-.

standing reserve fuel tank 14, previously referred to.

reasonable amount of liquid fuel for purposes to be later described.

In Figure 2 the safety controlling means 4, previously referred to, isshown in detail including a tubular shell or casing 4 and beingsupported by suitable connections at its lower end which have connectionwith the top wall of the reservoir or container 1. In the upper neck ofthe shell or casing 4 is provided a tapered seat into which is seated acone valve 34 forming the uppermost portion of an elongated tubularfloat 35 located within the shell or casing 4. The float 35 in openposition rests on a skeleton crossbar 36 located in the connection tothe reservoir or container 1. The peculiar construction of theskeletoncrossbar 36 is adapted to serve a two fold purpose and it willbe understood that besidesserving as a support for the float 35. allowsliquid fuel to flow between the float 35 and shell or casing 4 and downinto the reservoir or container 1. It will be understood, thatuponpouring liquid fuel into the filling pipe 5, the. fuel will enterthe shell or casing 4, flow down between the. float 35' &11d said shellor casing past the skeletoncross-bar 36 and into the reservoir orcontainer 1. It will be further understood, that upon the reservoir orcontainer 1 being filled, that the liquid fuel will begin to rise in theshell or casing 4 and upon reaching the underneath .side of the float35" will cause the same to be lifted with the gradual rise of the fueluntil the cone valve 34 of the float 35 will become entirely seated inthe seat 33 and as a result shut-off the further entrance ofliquid fuelinto the shell or casing 4 and the reservoir or container 1. Byreferring to Figure 1, the advantage of this action will be readilyseen, due tofthe fact that if such a controlling means. were notincluded with the reservoir or container 1 to determine thelevel atwhichfthe liquid, fuel would rise when filling the reservoir orcontainer, the liquid fuel: would simultaneously rise in the supply lineor pipe 6 which has connection with'the reservoir 1 and overflow intothe line or pipe 6 which wouldfmake the system ineffective for operationuntil the level of fuel in the reservoir or filling connections low theelevation of, the L7 in-the supply line or pipe 6. The action of thefloat 35 within the shell or casing 44 is positive and effective andwill beunderstood to prevent the liquid fuel from overflowing into thellO had been lowered preferably near or beervoir through the pipe 6 r Inother words, the rise supply fuel lines" and starting a siphon by suchoverflow and emptying the reservoir or container 1 of its contents.

In the operation of the system, the reserve fuel tank 14 is firstpartially filled with liquid fuel, as shown in Figure 1 and at the sametime the supply line or pipe 6" will be filled or primed to within ashort distance of the suction and pressure pump 19. It is to beunderstood that once priming the supply fuel line 6", and the reservefuel tank 14 to the approximate level shown in Figure 1, is all that isnecessary, since the tank 14 always retains a quantity of liquid fuelwhen stopped at intervals caused by thermostatic control or by othermeans.

Assuming the reservoir or container 1 to contain. fuel and the reservefuel tank 14 rimed with fuel and the supply line 6 filled with liquidfuel and the line 6 and 28 containing a volume of air, it will bereadilyunderstood that upon starting the pump 19, said pump will draw theliquid fuel fromthe line 6 and the tank 1e. As the fuel in the tank letdiminishes or is drawn from such tank it will start a siphonic action inthe lines 28 and 6 and lift the fuel from the resand down through thepipe 6 and into and through the tank 1% and into the fuel line 6". Theunused or excess fuel being returned to the reservoir, under slightpressure, through the line 23, as will be understood.

Upon the cessation of the pump, it will be obvious that the fuel in thelines 6 and 6 will drain into the tank 1 1 and rise to the approximatepoint shown in Figure 1, forcingv the air forward through the line 28and into and through the line 6, breaking the siphonic action,previously described, due to the operation of the pump and stop the flowof fuel through the system; leaving the tank 14 and line 6" primed forfurther operation when the pump is again started.

ment of the fuel in the tank 14 will create, first a suction on the airin the lines 28 and 6 to start the siphoning of the fuel from thereservoir through the system, and as the pipes 6 and 6 dram into thetank the air line 28 to fill the line 6 and break the s'zphomc action,thus created, and stop the flow of liquid until the pump is aga nstarted.

Figure 1 illustrates the approximate level,

at wliichthe liquid fuel assumes whenthe pump 19 is in operation and theliquid fuel is in circulation in the fuel system. 1th

the liquid fuel in circulation throughout the ervoir; a fuel supply tankand fall or movelat will supply the necessary pressure on the air 1nstood that the air rises in the fuel and returns to the upper portion ofthe reserve fuel tank forming an air chamber and the "air pipe or line28.

What I claim is z 1. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combinationwith a. pressure means, fuel reservoir and supply and return fuel linesbetween said pressure means and said resin the supply line havin primingmeans, and an air line in communication with said tank and the sup plyline between said tank and said reser-' voir, the operation of thepressure means diminishing the volume of'the fuel in said fuel tankcausing a'displacement of the air in the supply line creating a siphonin said line and causing the flow of fuel from the reservoir to thepressure means, and the cessation of the pressure means recharging thefuel tank from the supply line, connecting said tank and reservoir, andbreaking the siphon in said supply line by the admission of air thereinexpelled from said tank.

2. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with a pressure meansand a reservoir; a filling regulator connected to the reservoirincluding an upstanding tubular container and a float valve thereinadapted to close the inlet to the reservoir on the filling of thereservoir; supply and return fuel lines connecting said pressure meanswith said reservoir, the supply line including a section disposed oli'inlet in said regulator; a fuel supply tank in the supply line havingpriming means, and an air line in communication with said tank and thesupply line between said tank and said reservoir; the operation of thepressure 'means diminishing the volume of the fuel in said fuel tankcausing a displacement of the air in the supply line creating a siphonin said line and causing the flow of fuel from the reservoir to'thepressure means, and the cessation of the pressure means recharging thefuel tank from the supply line, connecting said tank and reservoir, andbreaking the siphon in said supply line by the admission of air thereinexpelled from said tank.

3. In a liquid fuel burning system, in combination with a pressure meansand a reservoir; supply and return fuel lines between I said pressuremeans and said reservoir; controlling valves in both said supply and return fuel lines; a fuel tank in the supply line, the latter including asection'discharging'into said tank near its lower end and a sectionconnected with its lower end to receive the flow of fuel therefrom; anair line in communication with the upper end of said tank and said firstmentioned section of the supply line at a pointbetween the tank and saidreservoir, and a filling regulator for the reservoir having valve meansoperative at apoint below the connection between the sure meansrecharging the fuel tank from air line and supply line; the operation ofthe supply line, connecting said tank and W the pressure meansdiminishing the volume reservoir, and breaking the siphon in said of thefuel in said fuel tank causing a dis supply line by the admission of airtherein placement of the air in the supply line expelled from said tank.

creating a. siphon in said line and causing In Witness whereof, I havehereunto the flow of fuel from the reservoir to the affixed my hand this21st day of April, 1925. pressure means, and the cessation ofthe pres-LEPORT R. VAN SANT.

